myth: between wise advice and fear traps/ cowardice

Have you ever heard about myth? What do you know about it? This word flashing in my mind. About how we should take position? Should we obey or ignore it?

First, what myth do you familiar with? Have you ever heard about the garden of Eden that found in the book of Genesis in the Bible? Or particularly in several religion. It’s a story about how Adam and Eden, the first human, formerly the citizen of heaven, expelled after ate the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. You might be notice about the story of Atlantis, the lost civilization that lived in the most advanced prehistoric era. Various speculations regarding its location are still the main discussion till today. What if we narrow it down to the local scale. Any of you familiar with Malin Kundang? The story of a young man who was initially poor and become arrogant because of his wealthy and even disobeyed his mother, as his punishment he turned into a stone. Else, the story of Roro Jongrang, beautiful princess who tricks a powerful prince who fulfilled the challenge to build temple in one night. Another popular myth which become a bedtime story such as si Kancil, Bawang Merah Bawang Putih, Jaka Tarub, etc.

So, what’s the benefit of having and learning about myth? Let start with the definition of myth. A myth is a traditional story, usually involve supernatural beings or events, often used to explain certain customs, belief, or natural phenomena. Myth is often passed down from generation to generation and vary in detail depending on the region. Myth can be important in a number of ways. They can provide answers of a question about world that people do not have scientific explanations for. Myth also often teach moral lesson and or explore human condition. It’s a matter between entertainment and enjoyment.

Like any other phenomena, a myth can also be two sides of coin. On one side, myth provide answers to questions about world that people don’t have knowledge or scientific explanations about it, beside moral lessons, and other benefit. But in the other side, myth also be used to justify prejudice. For more extreme, they also used to promote violence or any other harmful behaviours. They can be inaccurate or misleading.

Weather myths are pro or cons depends on how they are used. It is a beneficiary if they are used to promote understanding, tolerance and compassion or any other force for good. However, if they tent to be used to promote prejudice, discrimination or violence or any other force for harm, I’m sure you know where to stand.

How about noble values and traditional policies? Are myth support or oppose? Well if noble values and traditional policies in positive ways, myth is a means of analogy or simplify understanding tolerance, compassion and other force of good. Again, a moral lessons and human condition and more relevant today, proving role models. In many articles, they conclude, if myth are used in a positive way, they can be a powerful force for good in the world. It can help people to understand themselves and the world around them, also help people to live better lives by promoting noble values and traditional policies. Finger cross

Noble values and traditional values are still relevant today for providing a foundation ethical behaviour and social harmony. They offer guidance on how to live a good life and interact with others in appositive way. They main idea of noble values that we should trust and comfy such as: honesty, integrity, compassion, respect and courage. In other things, the important of traditional values we should have is like: family, community, religion and hard work. By doing so, we can make a difference in the world, exclusively difference of ourselves, a good condition. Another fingercross.